A bill that would have stripped Sen. Tommy Norment of a controversial state sinecure that paid him $120,000 last year was killed Thursday by a state Senate subcommittee.

HB664 would have banned legislators from serving as commissioners of accounts – a judicially appointed post that oversees the disposition of estates. Norment, R-James City, is the only current member of the General Assembly holding the politically connected job, although many legislators before him have also held the posts. The ethical propriety of legislators accepting patronage from judges they appoint has been long debated.

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